Veeeeeery short chapter today! Oops!
Bibi was sure she was awake. But it was so dark, so couldn't tell if her eyes were open or not. Her head pounded, she could taste blood. Her mouth was dry, her throat felt lined with tree bark. Her shoulders were aching, arched around a stone post. Her breathing was constricted, a pressure on her ribs. Wherever she was, whatever was going on, it was swelteringly hot. The air was heavy and stuffed with heat, singeing her lungs. Her skin prickled with sweat that dried almost immediately in the rocketing temperature. She coughed, realised why her chest was so tight.
Red-hot metal chains ensnared her to the stone post at her back. When she tried to move her hands, she could not feel her fingers. Her heart thumped- her hands were in the stone. She strained, to no avail, panic doubling when she realised her legs were no better off. She could not see them, but the weight of stone shackles bore down on her lower legs and feet.
Breathing did nothing to dull her hysteria. Her memory was returning, they were ambushed. Where was Lody? What had they done with Lody?
Lights flared before her, she squeezed her eyes shut as pain blared through them.
"Oh, don't be like that." She squinted at the voice, her eyes taking too long to adjust. A fuzzy image stood amongst the autumnal haze of fire. Bibi could not see their face, but she recognised that stance, the long braid draping to the floor.
Atala the Fae Queen smiled. Bibi did not see this, but she heard it in the queen's voice. "That's better. Keep your eyes open, imp." She gave a laugh, smoothing down her dress. "It's no fun if I can't see the fear."